Microsoft appoints new VP of corporate communications

Microsoft said Tuesday it had appointed Simon Sproule as the company’s new corporate vice president of corporate communications.

Sproule, 40, had served as corporate vice president of global communications at Nissan Motor Co. for the last five years.

Sproule is known for his love of cars — his first job out of King’s College in London was as a car salesman for Ford, according to an article that appeared late last month in The Japan Times.

At Ford, he ended up leading corporate communications for Jaguar North America, Land Rover and Aston Martin, before taking on the job at Nissan, where he was credited with changing the company’s approach to corporate social responsibility.

“We make things,” Sproule told the Internationalist two years ago. “We do not simply give away money. This philosophy will result in a better product for the consumer. Today, every touch point with our consumer — even the charitable ones — needs to be carefully considered and every investment we make needs to be responsibly managed.”

Sproule replaces Larry Cohen, who left Microsoft to work as Bill Gates’ chief of staff.